I’m an Aussie property manager. There are five things you should never do at a rental inspection – and why appearances do matter

An Australian property manager has shared her top tips for unlocking the keys to your dream rental – and the things you should never do during inspections.

Alicia McColloch from Aqwasun Estate Agents in Perth, Western Australia, told Daily Mail Australia that appearances matter when attending open houses for rentals.

“My tips come from my own experience within the real estate industry and are intended to help people be successful when applying for real estate,” she explained.

‘I recommend not to drink alcohol during the inspection.’

Mrs. McCulloch told a story about a woman who came into the open house and drank a bottle of liquor.

“She came into this open house and drank alcohol, which you’re allowed to do; it just didn’t look that good,” she said.

“Then her sister who was with her came in in her pajamas, it was at four in the afternoon. And that’s fine too. It just doesn’t make a good impression.

‘I would never tell someone what they can wear or drink, but appearance does matter.

“I know it’s really hard right now, so you want to do everything you absolutely can, and this doesn’t come across well. Perception is the key.’

The Perth-based property manager said first impressions are important because owners want to know how potential tenants behaved.

‘When submitting applications to the owner, the owners often ask us questions about how they presented the property, how they acted.

“We can’t lie to the owners and give factual feedback to the owner.”

The Perth-based property manager said her tips were a friendly reminder knowing how competitive the rental market is (photo of tenants queuing to inspect a property)

There are also other behaviors that Ms. McColoch urges applicants to avoid

“We’ve seen people smoking out the front while waiting for a house to open. I would recommend waiting until after the house opens,” she said.

‘People also park on the lawn in front of the house, which I strongly advise against!’

The officer also advises that any drinks, including non-alcoholic drinks, be left in the car and be presented ‘decently’, with work uniforms being ‘no problem’.

Other helpful tips shared by the agent with Daily Mail Australia include not delaying applying for the property and applying before the inspection, if permitted.

To avoid delays in their application, potential tenants should ensure that all their information is correct and that they have all current documents.

Ms McColoch also says making your application more personal can also help.

‘When applying for a home online, there is often room for an ‘about me’ paragraph. Complete this with a short story about you and your family,” she said.

‘This space can be used to replace the covering letter that we often saw on paper applications.’